By Conor Langs West Hawaii Today
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KEALAKEHE — A day of fun-filled football activities and giving back to the community was hosted Saturday at Kealakehe High School’s Waverider Stadium.

The third annual Ho‘omau Football Camp was held for 300 elementary, middle and high schoolers looking to work on their craft. Both boys and girls participated.

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Elementary and middle schoolers worked on more of the basic fundamentals — including quarterback, receiver, running back and tackling drills — along with friendly competitions with prizes. The high schoolers were taught several drills that the camp’s coaches learned at the collegiate level — giving campers a chance to learn how the next level trains.

The campers have mostly all played football previously, but anyone interested in trying out the sport was welcome to compete.

The event was founded by 2020 Kamehameha-Hawaii graduate Wilde Germano, who also played football for Colorado State University – Pueblo. Germano was assisted by several Big Island football alums who currently play or have played at the collegiate level, including Hilo grad Kilohana Haasenritter (University of Oregon) Konawaena alumni Austin Ewing (Southern Utah), Wyatt Wehrsig (Whitworth University) and Keoki Alani (Santa Rosa College), HPA grad Kukila Lincoln (University of Montana) and KSH grad Teva Reynolds (Georgia Southern).

Admission was free of charge, but bringing one canned good per camper was a requirement for participating. The canned goods will be donated to local West Hawaii food banks.

Last year’s camp was held at KSH, but Germano felt that it was appropriate to hold the event on the Kona side this time around.

“Last year, we had about 100 Kona kids,” Germano told West Hawaii Today. “So I felt like it was time to get back to the West Side, because these kids loved it last year. We wanted to show them some love.

“The Big Island is getting more competitive with football, with Konawaena and Hilo winning state titles in recent years. We just want to get this community excited about football.”

Germano felt that Ho‘omau — which means to persevere, continue or endure in Hawaiian — was a perfect name for the camp due to the resilience that he and the rest of the camp’s coaches went through as Big Island athletes growing up, trying to earn a roster spot at a collegiate program. Wanting to give back to the community, Germano and the staff hope the campers will foster a mindset of never giving up.

After all, Germano has experienced and seen first-hand that getting to that next level is possible.

“Believe in yourself first and foremost, because if you don’t believe in yourself, then no one else will,” Germano said. “I think (Ho‘omau) almost reflects all of our journeys as coaches, as we all tried getting to college. All of us, in some sort of way, have shown resilience, and I want to show these kids that it’s possible.”

Germano also felt that giving back to his homeland in this way was a full-circle moment, as he grew up on the island with a dream — just like the current keiki.

“Being from the Big Island, it filled me with a lot of pride,” Germano said. “I’m really proud of where I come from. I was always taught that it takes a village to raise a boy, and I wouldn’t have made it without my people. Even the people I competed against, they helped me get here. So it’s really about giving back to the community that poured so much into me.

“And by community, I mean the whole Big Island — because we are stronger together than separated. When (the coaching staff and I) went to college, there weren’t many other Big Island athletes that came with us. We want to help get more of us out there, because this island is talented.”

Evident by the large number of campers each year, the community has backed the camp with nothing but overwhelming support, as several parents and friends watched the day’s activities from the stands. Germano also pointed out the appreciation from the parents and campers, along with the opportunity the campers got by meeting and competing against some of their current and future competition.

“I think the parents appreciate giving their kids something to do in the summer, and football is becoming more and more year round every year. We want to give them something right during summer break that leads into their season.

“Hopefully, this upcoming football season, campers will remember, ‘Hey, I went to Ho‘omau with that kid.’”

Haasenritter, a 2020 Hilo graduate who is currently playing defensive back for the Ducks, echoed much of Germano’s thoughts.

“It’s always a blessing to come back to the community and give knowledge back to the kids,” he added. “Many of these kids have great coaches already, but with our knowledge coming from college, we’re able to bring something different back here. I always have the intention of coming back and sharing everything that I know, so the next generation is even better.

“I was once in these guys’ shoes not too long ago, learning and getting information from other coaches who have done great things. It made me better, and helped get me to the level I am now as a player. So I’m just here to give it back. They’re like little Simbas right now, and we’re Mufasa.”